#je suis bruxelles

Following the three attacks that took place in Brussels, yesterday morning (Tuesday, March 22), and which are reported to have taken 30 lives, the people of Belgium have received massive support coming from all over the world. Some even likened the case to that of Paris (November 13, 2015). Thereafter, diverse sympathetic and reassuring articles, images and videos, have emerged on social media.

I – as a human being – condemn such barbaric and politically-motivated terrorist acts. But, Je suis Bruxelles or Je suis Paris? Well, regardless of my belongings; of where I am from and who I might be, I am neither Brussels nor Paris. Why? Because before it had occurred in Paris or Brussels, let us not forget the fact that it had actually occurred somewhere in the world. Both of Paris and Brussels belong to the world before they belong to France and Belgium. Let us not forget that those who died in Paris and Brussels where actually human beings before they ever were French or Belgian. And also, numerous other countries have known such acts. Therefore, and more importantly, terrorism is an act against humanity more than it is an act against a specific country, ethnicity religion or ideology.

Since Paris, there have been literally hundreds of terrorist attacks around the world, but sadly many of them have gone unnoticed.

Bamako, Mali (November 20, 2015): 20 dead.

A group of al-Qaeda-linked militants took 170 people hostage, ultimately killing 20, during a mass shooting at a Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.

Tunis, Tunisia (November 24, 2015): 13 dead.

A bus loaded with Tunisian presidential guards was struck by a suicide bomber linked to the so-called Islamic State. The lone bomber killed 13 people.

Istanbul, Turkey (January 12, 2016): 13 dead.

A suicide bombing in a popular central square in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, left 13 people dead and 14 people injured.

Jakarta, Indonesia (January 14, 2016): 8 dead.

A series of suicide bombings and shootings in Indonesia’s capital left eight people dead, including four assailants. Another 24 people were wounded.

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (January 15, 2016): at least 30 dead.

A group of al-Qaeda backed militants attacked the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou. At least 30 people were killed, and another 56 were wounded.

Ankara, Turkey (February 17, 2016): At least 29 dead.

At least 29 people were killed and another 60 people were injured. The attack was carried out by a car bomb

Mogadishu, Somalia (February 25, 2016): At least 15 dead.

After a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the gate of the SYL hotel, at least 15 people and left others wounded.

Ankara, Turkey (March 13, 2016): 37 dead.

A second attack in Ankara this year saw the deaths of 37 people and another 127 people injured.

Istanbul, Turkey (March 19, 2016): At least 4 dead.

At least four people were killed by a suicide bomber, another 36 people were wounded by the attack on Istanbul’s main shopping street.

But why does a Western life matter more than any other one does? The world does not only revolve around the West, does it? Is Islam to blame?

As mentioned before, between the two tragedies (those of Paris and Brussels), Muslim-majority countries such as Tunisia, Mali, Egypt, Turkey and doubtlessly Syria & Iraq also suffered from such deadly ‘Islamic’ acts.

Either before or after the two tragedies, of which ISIS claimed full responsibility, Muslims have always been ISIS’ closest and main target. Especially those in Syria whom, if not affected by terrorism itself, they are being affected by 'the war against terrorism’.

According to the Syrian Centre for Policy Research, 470,000 have been killed during the time period between 15 March 2011 and 11 February 2016.

Terrorism is an act against humanity more than it is an act against a specific country, ethnicity religion or ideology.